Car production in Portugal increases

Car production in Portugal increased between January and October year-on-year. According to data from ACAP, “in the ten months of 2023, 264,174 vehicles left factories installed in Portugal, that is, 3.3% more than in the same period of the previous year”.

In a statement released this Tuesday, the Automobile Association of Portugal (ACAP) reveals that the production of passenger cars increased by 0.5% to 201,661 until October, while light goods cars showed the biggest year-on-year increase (14.1%). , to 57,560. Production of heavy vehicles rose 9.2% to 4,953 until October.

However, adds the ACAP note, production in October fell 22.0% compared to the same month in 2022. Car manufacturing at Autoeuropa, the main manufacturer in Portugal, was interrupted due to the lack of components, with only the resumption of full time on October 23rd. Thus, last month, the total number of vehicles produced in Portugal was 28,135,

Passenger cars and heavy vehicles recorded reductions of 34.6% and 0.3%, respectively, to 20,184 and 782, each, while the production of light goods in the month under review rose 61.7%, to 7,169 .

“Statistical information relating to the year 2023 confirms the importance that exports represent for the automotive sector as 97.8% of vehicles manufactured in Portugal are destined for the foreign market, which contributes significantly to the Portuguese trade balance” , highlights the ACAP statement.

The association also points out that Europe “remains the main market for “exports of vehicles manufactured in national territory — with 88.7%”, despite a drop compared to October 2022. Germany continues to lead the ‘ ranking’, with 19.9%, followed by France (14.9%), Italy (13.0%) and Spain (9.7%).